Politics
U.S. President Obama backing Senate filibuster reform
U.S. President Barack Obama. PHOTO/File
U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday endorsed the move by Democrats to revamp Senate filibuster rules to make it easier for the majority party to confirm nominees.
“I support the step a majority of senators took to change the way that Washington is doing business. More specifically, the way the Senate does business,” Obama said during remarks in the White House briefing room. “The vote today, I think, is an indication that a majority of senators believe, as I believe, that enough is enough.”
Obama said Republicans have harmed the economy and democracy itself by routinely leaning on the filibuster to prevent his nominees from getting votes. As of Thursday, 21 of his nominees are either currently being filibustered or were filibustered and withdrew.
Earlier Thursday, Democrats voted 52 to 48 to fundamentally change Senate filibuster rules regarding a president’s executive and judicial nominees, with an exception for Supreme Court nominees.
Read more: The HuffingtonPost